Since 1992, the Clean Water Network has served public interest groups by serving as a portal for the latest news and information on federal clean water policy developments. The Network facilitates communications among member groups and coordinates joint policy and position statements as well as activities. This combination of federal policy work and field advocacy is needed to achieve a stronger national program that will help to bring polluted waterways back to health and preserve our nation’s rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, estuaries and coastal waters.

The Clean Water Network is the country’s largest advocacy coalition focused on protecting and restoring our nation’s waters. In 2008, CWN became its own 501 (c) 3 independent organization; for its first 16 years it was a project of the Natural Resources Defense Council. CWN has worked hard this past year to continue to build collaboration, coordination, and capacity of member organizations. CWN’s main collaboration techniques include creating priority projects and campaigns with our members, hosting events, providing strategic communication tools, building partnerships, tapping local, state, and national expertise, and linking technical and policy experts with citizen leaders to help members participate in policymaking.